March Madness for SU News

Analysis of impacts from the war in Iran kept Seattle University faculty experts busy in recent weeks, while the possible expansion of the NBA to Seattle, an alumnus in the Paralympics and the Redhawk men’s basketball team’s appearance in the National Invitation Tournament had SU in the news as well.

Political Science Associate Teaching Professor Patrick Schoettmer spoke to KIRO TV about Iran possibly withdrawing from the World Cup over the war, as well as KCPQ about leadership changes in the Department of Homeland Security. Economics Professor Joseph Phillips was on KUOW talking about the impact of the war on Washington farmers and Associate Professor Nick Huntington-Klein was interviewed by the Seattle Times about the surge in gas prices in the wake of the war.

Perhaps the biggest news in the Seattle area in March was the announcement that the NBA would be moving forward with possible expansion to the city, 18 years after the Seattle SuperSonics left for Oklahoma City. Natalie Welch, director of SU’s MBA Sport and Entertainment Management program, talked to both KING 5 and KIRO about the prospects of the NBA back in Seattle.

Assistant Professor of Law Erin Carr on KING 5. 

Debates around the Save Act and potential changes to mail-in voting were topics Assistant Professor of Law Erin Carr discussed with KING 5 while fellow assistant Law Professor Elizabeth Ford analyzed a lawsuit against Dick’s Drive-In restaurants on KIRO Radio. SU Law Professor Emerita Janet Ainsworth spoke to USA Today about issues surrounding Miranda rights.

On the court, pitch and slopes

The Redhawks men’s basketball team made its first trip to the postseason National Invitation Tournament since 1957, winning a first-round game before losing to eventual champion Auburn in the second round. That game was covered extensively, including by ESPN, the Seattle Times and KCPQ.

Women’s soccer star Caroline Penner was a finalist for the Seattle Sports Star of the Year, an achievement covered by both the Seattle Times and KING 5.

Seattle Sports Star of the Year nominee Caroline Penner (second from left) on KING 5. 

Erin Grant, a graduate of Seattle University’s nursing program, competed in the Winter Paralympics and was featured on KCPQ and  KUOW. March also marks the start of the baseball season and SU legend and two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, ’18, briefly reflected on his time as a Redhawk in an appearance on the Colin Cowherd radio show.

Supporting Students and the Arts

The Seattle University and University of Washington choirs collaborated on two performances of Considering Matthew Shepard, a show created 10 years ago about the 1998 murder of the gay college student. KING 5 Evening Magazine and the Tacoma News Tribune covered the performances.

The Mehta Wahi Scholarship, a new scholarship introduced by SU Law, will support an incoming student who shows interest in South Asia-related legal, social and policy issues. Northwest Asian Weekly wrote about the scholarship.